Patience was a virtue for Kahoku on Friday night (November 17) as his come from behind effort earned him a his sixth win of the year in the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot.
BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) shot right to the front and opened up a three-length lead while taking the field to the quarter in :28.2 and with everyone settled behind him, the half in :58.4.
As the group entered the second circuit, Kahoku (Kevin Cummings) came first-over and eventually worked his way next to the leader. The pair then matched strides to the three-quarters with neither one giving an inch. Around the last turn, BZ Glide was inside with Kahoku to his right with Caprio and Cummings sparring in the bike like boxers in the ring.
Down the lane, the pair continued to trot in stride until 20 yards from the wire when Kahoku finally wore BZ Glide down and gained a length advantage under the wire in 1:57.4.
The win was the second in the last three starts for Kahoku ($12.80), who is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trainer by Priscilla "Sis" Mooney.
The combination of Cummings, Mooney and Girdlestone also took the major share from the co-featured $8,500 Open II Trot one race earlier when Lutetium went wire-to-wire in handy fashion to win by a length in 1:57.2, which tied his seasonal mark.
The win was the 57th lifetime for Lutetium ($13.40), who is creeping up on a half-million in earnings for his career, now sitting with $446,087 in the bank.
As a result of no winning ticket again in the Pick-5 on Friday, there will be a guaranteed $6,000 early Pick-5 on Saturday night as part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Pool. The early Pick-5 runs from race one to race five.
Free past performance pages will be available at handicapping.ustrotting.com.
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday evening (November 18) with post time for the first race at 6 p.m.
(With files from Batavia Downs)